MRI-guided stereotaxic targeting in pigs based on a stereotaxic localizer box fitted with an isocentric frame and use of SurgiPlan computer-planning software

• Published in: Journal of neuroscience methods Vol. 183; no. 2; pp. 119 - 126
• Main Authors: Bjarkam, Carsten R., Cancian, Graziano, Glud, Andreas N., Ettrup, Kaare S., Jørgensen, Rasmus L., Sørensen, Jens-Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15-10-2009
• Subjects: Algorithms; Animals; Application accuracy; Brain Mapping; Deep Brain Stimulation - methods; Disease Models, Animal; Göttingen minipig; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Ischemia - pathology; Ischemia - therapy; Leksell SurgiPlan; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - instrumentation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Mechanical accuracy; Neural tracing; Phantoms, Imaging; Software; Stereotaxic instrument; Stereotaxic Techniques - instrumentation; Sus scrofa; Swine; Application accuracy; Leksell SurgiPlan; Stereotaxic instrument; Göttingen minipig; Neural tracing; Mechanical accuracy; Sus scrofa
• ISSN: 0165-0270; 1872-678X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.06.019

We present a stereotaxic procedure enabling MRI-guided isocentric stereotaxy in pigs. The procedure is based on the Leksell stereotaxic arch principle, and a stereotaxic localizer box with an incorporated fiducial marking system (sideplates) defining a stereotaxic space similar to the clinical Leksell system. The obtained MRIs can be imported for 3D-reconstruction and coordinate calculation in the clinical stereotaxic software planning system (Leksell SurgiPlan, Elekta AB, Sweden). After MRI the sideplates are replaced by a modified Leksell arch accommodating clinical standard manipulators for isocentric placement of DBS-electrodes, neural tracers and therapeutics in the calculated target coordinates.
The mechanical accuracy of the device was within 0.3–0.5mm. Stereotaxic MRIs were imported to the stereotaxic software planning system with a mean error of 0.4–0.5mm and a max error of 0.8–0.9mm. Application accuracy measured on a phantom and on inserted skull markers in nine pigs was within 1mm in all planes. The intracerebral application accuracy found after placement of 10 manganese trajectories within the full extent of the intracerebral stereotaxic space in two minipigs was equally randomly distributed and within 0.7±0.4; 0.5±0.4; and 0.7±0.3mm in the X, Y, and Z plane. Injection of neural tracers in the subgenual gyrus of three minipigs and placement of encapsulated gene-modified cells in four minipigs confirmed the accuracy and functionality of the described procedure.
We conclude that the devised technique and instrumentation enable high-precision stereotaxic procedures in pigs that may benefit future large animal neuroscience research and outline the technical considerations for a similar stereotaxic methodology in other animals.